[Mechanics of the characteristic geometry of the human spine undergoing vertical pressure].
Since MAGENDIE in 1816, it has been a common assertion in books of Anatomie that curves of the spine increase its strength. This increase in strength has been estimated by a formula attributed to EULER: R = nc2 + 1 in which R is the strength and nc2 stands for the square of the number of curves. Applying the actual law of Euler on the strength of beams submitted to a vertical effort, the authors conclude that strength is increased by about 30% and not multiplied by 10, 16 or even 17 as is often falsely written.
Guillot
M
M
Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Clermont-Ferrand.
Fournier
J
J
Scheye
T
T
Escande
G
G
Chazal
J
J
Tanguy
A
A
Vanneuville
G
G
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D011312:Pressure; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*
Justification mécanique approchée de la géométrie particulaière du rachis humain soumis à contrainte verticale.